53 comments:

My experience has been that French men are indeed more publicly romantic compared with American men. They are entirely capable of kissing their wife, their girlfriend and their mistress right there on the street, one after another.

Excellent point PCI was sitting at a grand luncheon in Lyon and a world famous winemaker was there beside his wife and his mistress was at another table. There were several situations like that on site come to think of it. Very considerate IMHO. No one gets left out

Parents slow down to the child's pace. time is taken. This is sooooo important. Parents need to allow children to process the world around them at the pace that works for them. We all hustle through life too quickly. Here is the USA, we leave them strapped into strollers longer because we can speed them through life. Such a shame. Excellent observations in this post!

I have always wondered about the length of time that Americans keep their children in strollers these days- I don't remember this being so 40 years ago. I associated it more with a combination of an easy way to control the child without having to interact them, and an early set up for childhood obesity. The walking equivalent of plopping your kid in front of the TV for hours. The people in your photos do seem more engaged with each other than the average US citizen- Holding hands instead of gazing at hand held devices! ;)

Even their language is more romantic. It's always "cherie" rather than calling you by your name. And once when I broke up w/ my French boyfriend, a friend told me she consoled him by saying there would be other fish to catch and he responded "oui mais Jacqueline était la plus belle page de ma vie." An American would have said "she dumped me or she broke up with me." There's the difference

Carol, I totally agree with KBecker above! I could not have said it better. Take the child by the hand and go at the child's pace. Allow them to experience the world & all it's wonders , often for the first time. I hear Moms here in malls and on the street rushing their child "hurry up", "come on!" " move it!" So sad. I know they are juggling too much but all too soon that child will be an adult & gone for all intents and purposes from your life & you won't get it back, that precious time.

Couples of all ages hold hands In Paris. I love to watch elderly couples walking with their shopping cart going to the market together. Families are out together in the parks on the week-end. Men are just more appreciative of women. One of our sunny days, I got on the bus and was obviously feeling happy. The busdriver remarked that I had a nice smile.That gave me an even brighter smile.

French men ARE more romantic. They simply enjoy the company of women, where as American men would rather hang out with their buddies. Just adds to the Paris envy...

And Rebecca is sooo right about those darn games/phones. I see two-year-olds in shopping carts "playing" games while mom hurries around the store. What happened to books and, I don't know, talking? Vocab "lessons" abound in a grocery store! BTW, phones are banned from our dinner table... x Katie

THAT is very, very true. An American man will tell you what he does for a living or where he vacationed or where he lives. A Frenchman wants to know about you and knows how to ask the questions in order to ispire an exchange. He will also notice a haircut or new shoes or the fine way your pants are cut and will compliment you on specifics. American men don’t...

I"m a 60 + woman who, recently, with another woman my age, met a Frenchman at an event. He spent quite a bit of time visiting with us and even had to be cajoled by his co-workers to continue the tour they were on. That would NEVER have happened with an American man.

Don't know US men but had a Scottish boyfriend: yes, definitely French and Italian men ARE more romantic and prone to show affection in pubblic.They don't run from a hug or a kiss if they feel like it...or their partners ;o)While I perfectly agree with the strollers thought, even in Iatly children are strapped in strollers for far too long.My son began walking beside me when he was little older than 2 and it was a joy to slow down for him. Appereantly, and sadly, it isn't like this any more.Rosanna

Yes! I firmly believe French men are more romantic! They just seem less inhibited when it comes to public displays of affection. My boyfriend is French, and I remember I was so (pleasantly) surprised when he started holding my hand the second day I knew him!

P.S. I'm heading back to Paris this week to visit him and I was planning to pack boots, but I was worried it was too late into Spring to wear boots. I felt a lot better when I saw your post about all the boots in Paris right now!!

This struck me with me french man. Early in our relationship in a restaurant in Washington, DC, he kissed me and played with my hair for a few seconds...a few moments later he leaned back and apologized for being too public with his affection. He was aware of American ways and had simply not gotten used to it. Hopelessly in love, I asked me to kiss me again...this time longer. Americans stared. ;)

French men definately seem to be more aware of women just because they're women but some of the affection and kissing may be due to the fact that they walk so much more than we do. It's hard to give someone a spontaneous kiss when you're driving a car and that seems to be where we live.

After following your blog for a long time, I know that the kids seem to have an added importance than here in the US. That's how it seems, anyway. They get a lot of love and attention.If that hand holding affection carries over into adulthood, it would make sense that both sexes would be more demonstrably romantic.When you mention the mistresses, though, it gets very confusing :)

I would not find a French man, or any man for that manner, romantic at all if he had a wife, mistress and girlfriend! If you have a wife, respect her and respect the institution of marriage. As a French woman, I love my American husband and I must say he is quite romantic. So many silly generalizations in these comments. There is good, bad and in between in all cultures and countries. How I wish people would remember that!

One thing is for certain - Italian men, esp from the South (Rome downwards) are much more demonstrative than the British / American / even Australian male. They may not love more but outward displays of affection are pretty nice to receive. Oh yes people in Paris / Rome walk more and we take our cars (Australians and our American lady says there too). Because we CAN! They can't. Our cars are in our gardens beside our house; jump in and off we go. Better than taking the lift down 6 floors then spending a half-hour trying to remember where you found a street-park for your car last. Gwendoline in Australia.

Dated F And E..married my Frenchman.I think they have an edge.I look at my 4 grandsons..We spent the whole weekend with 3 of them..and when they write and talk to us in French..there is an edge.My son in law..their dad..is terribly charming:-) His last name is Latendresse:-)

I agree with you and am especially intrigued by older couples in their romantic promenades. I took this last September in les Jardins de Luxembourg.don't know what these guys are like once you get them indoors, but they certainly seem romantic outdoors!Love your blog,Beverly, in Californa

... Strictly from my experience only ... I am American and find American men the best "all around" ... in general, that is ... when I see French men fawning over a woman, I think it's just "silly" a bit. I like the less obvious forms of public affection, physical but not too obvious. It's more sensual.

Having been through both French and American relationships and happily settling on a Frenchman I will say yes they are more romantic, but I think alot of it has to do with living in the moment. Whether the moment is for the hour or the year, they seem not to sweat the small stuff and live for the here and now much more so than American men.

What an interesting post! I would first separate affection from romance though - romance is about emotion, sweeping your partner off her feet, and creating an air of love.The French guys I know are not more romantic than their other male counterparts. They can display PDAs, sure, but don't necessarily create a greater aura of love. I know one 40 year old French man (engaged twice as well) who never bought a single piece of jewelry for a woman. Hmm, that doesn't seem tres romantic! I do think that French men have a stereotype in their favor in this regard.I do love all the hand holding couples here as well as the affection shown to children. French, Italian, American - any man showing affection and creating an air of love with his wife and family is romantic!

I do think the French are more physical. They even bump into you more here...I went out with a very UNromantic French guy for over 2 years, but he had emigrated to the US and lost his mojo I guess...There is always the one who doesn't fit the stereotype

Dear carol, im reading all yours post (one week ago I left disneylandparis to work in a hotel in paris A DREAM CAME TRUE) and im happy to know that your bday is 2 days before mine (im 19 may =) maybe taurus girls loves paris and left everything to live like expats here??? And like I latin girl like i am i can say that FRENCH BOYS ARE MORE ROMANTIC than other cultures boys... my french boy is a sweet!!! just like a macarron hahahaa and dont worry i still invite u to go to disneyparis =) Im so happy left there... CAUSE WORK IN PARIS IS SO FRENCH!!! =) LOVE IT!!! just need know LIVE in paris again =) and please try to go to PROVINS ... its a medieval city sooooo beautiful and dont worry... im waiting for your book ...=) all the time u need ill be waiting =) thanks for all tips dear !!! love your blog =)